We are surrounded by crime—it’s in the news, TV shows, movies, books, and podcasts. Depending on their field of study, students spend a considerable amount of time thinking about crime (deviant behaviour) and researching it.

Creative Writing students who take fiction genre workshops, especially CREW 425: Mystery Writing Workshop, inevitably read and write mysteries, imagining and describing unusual murder settings and all sorts of dangerous situations.

Social Science students study and measure deviant behaviour in attempts to understand society and crime.

But the reality is different. We can study and prepare ourselves all we want, yet unsafe situations can be unpredictable and dangerous.

Unlike in classic mystery favourites, real-life justice is not guaranteed and many criminals go unpunished.

Statistically, Canada has a low crime rate. But with all the missing posters around, like Teddy Archibald’s disappearance and passing case, or Sherry Shelley’s open homicide investigation, it is understandable that many folks feel unsafe.

With open homicide investigations, missing persons, and human trafficking becoming one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, it is not the time to take personal safety lightly.

Many students have to attend evening classes, commit to night shifts, or walk the streets of Nanaimo alone at night after an event—things can be scary and dangerous.

Virtually anyone could be selected as a target for human trafficking, as it is a complex criminal operation where criminals prey on people in vulnerable situations.

Rita Thorne is a third-year VIU student majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Criminology. She is a member of Cowichan Tribes and has two daughters.

When asked about safety, Thorne shares, “I guess my daughters are really guarded. My oldest one’s never had a sleepover, and she’s 17. We don’t let them go anywhere by themselves, only with an adult. Because of human trafficking.”

She also mentioned there are community members who travel around different reservations and teach Indigenous folks self-defence at no cost.

It’s not new information that minority groups in our society have to be more careful and vigilant.

A casual walk outside poses more danger to some than others.

February 22 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada.

Data reported by Statistics Canada from 2013 to 2023 shows that 93 percent of human trafficking victims were women and girls, and according to the Human Trafficking Search organization, approximately 50 percent of Canada’s trafficking victims are Indigenous women, though they only make up 4 percent of the country’s total population.

In her interview with CBC News, Danielle Sutton-Preddie, who works as an analyst at the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, shares that “human trafficking is often hidden and victims may be reluctant to come forward.”

The Government of Canada reports that different forms of this crime include sex trafficking and labour trafficking, with anyone in a vulnerable position being at risk of falling victim to it.

It is crucial to know the warning signs to look for. Raising awareness on how to recognize human trafficking victims can save lives.

Some situations, such as having to pay for the job ‘opportunity’ or being offered a job that seems too good to be true, can seem somewhat normal and non-suspicious, often being dismissed without a red flag.

Others play on human nature and desires, as well as vulnerabilities such as suddenly being showered with gifts or money, or developing a close, fast-moving relationship (possibly over social media).

There are also physical signs that could point at someone being in a dangerous or controlling situation, such as avoiding eye contact, being withdrawn and afraid, and/or being escorted at all times.

Zonta Club of Nanaimo is featuring a free Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Awareness event on Saturday, February 28.

The lineup consists of two VIU professors: Collette Jones from the Women and Gender Studies department and Michael Down from the Criminology department. The registration is open on Eventbrite. VIU practicum students are also invited as guest speakers.

Participating in this event is an excellent opportunity to educate yourself about the realities of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, as well as learn to recognize the signs of danger and raise your awareness about this issue.

Nanaimo Airport joined the #NotInMyCity initiative in 2024, which was originally started by a Canadian country singer, Paul Brandt, “to prevent, disrupt and end sexual exploitation and trafficking.”

Although it is a myth that trafficking victims are always forced to cross borders and move to different countries, airports are the hubs for this particular crime.

That’s why there are different programs and posters in airports, with many of them happening nationwide.

Recognizing the signs of trafficking and reporting suspicious behaviour could save lives.

Despite the overall low rates of crime in Canada, it is always a good practice to keep safe and follow simple steps and procedures to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.

The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-833-900-1010.

Corporal Alex Bérubé, a District Advisory Non-Commissioned Officer (Media Relations) for Vancouver Island District, has kindly shared tips on personal safety. Here are some ways to legally protect ourselves.

Try to avoid any people or situations that do not feel safe, and if you are alone, be prepared for anything that may put you at risk. Being aware of your surroundings and using judgment when engaging with strangers is another rule of thumb when it comes to avoiding dangerous situations.

It is recommended to generally avoid helping strangers, whether it is to aid them with directions, finding a lost pet, or join them in an activity or a game.

Be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid staring at your screen, especially if you’re wearing headphones. If someone is following you, cross the street, go to the nearest group of people or business, and call the police. Run to a safe location like an open store, and look for someone with a nametag.

Corporal Bérubé shares that “any sort of tools that can be used as a weapon becomes problematic, especially if used for a dangerous purpose. The other issue arises if the person carrying a ‘weapon’ for self-defence loses that tool which in turn can be used against them.”

While carrying pepper spray for self-defence can seem like a good idea, it is illegal in Canada and in British Columbia, and using bear spray on people is also against the law.

But personal alarm devices that release loud sounds, safety apps, and self-defence training, are among the non-prohibited tools to aid in dangerous situations.

The City of Nanaimo established a Downtown Nanaimo Community Safety Action Plan in 2022 to tackle multiple issues, such as general safety and street cleanliness, help improve the city’s appearance, and manage social disorder.

The city created a team of Community Safety Officers (CSO), who are trained on compassion and patrol the streets.

I went for a walk along with two CSOs, Ron Litzenberger and Lorna McGeorge, on Wednesday morning of January 21, and it was an eye-opening experience.

By 10:00 am, Litzenberger and McGeorge had assisted with administering Naloxone to two unhoused persons that overdosed and were unresponsive, called 911, and waited for the emergency services to arrive.

The Community Safety Officers’ job is to serve as mediators and negotiators between the residents of Nanaimo and actions that need to be taken in order to bring overall public order.

Litzenberger shares that their job is mainly about building rapport and relationships with the homeowners and the unhoused folks alike, and connecting the latter ones with emergency resources such as shelter, medical services, showers, or anything else they might need. In the last four years, it has received positive feedback from the general public, business owners, and the unhoused population of Nanaimo.

“We’re not the people who are gonna get at the root causes; we’re not the government who has control of budgets that deal with services,” Lizenberger says.

“We are the day-to-day maintenance people in a sense, who show up and say, okay, what do we see? What’s the problem? What’s the impact that is on the citizens of our community or on our parks, or business—and how can we solve that?”

VIU security can be reached by calling 6512 from any VIU internal phone or 250-740-6512 from your cellphone. A Safe Walk service is an option to be escorted anywhere on campus, including to a bus stop, student housing, and your vehicle. This safety option is available to any student on the Nanaimo campus.

Students are also encouraged to use the VIU Safety App to receive campus emergency alerts, access the Safe Walk service, check in with the work alone feature, or report any suspicious activities on campus.

For further information, you can call 250-740-6512 or email VIU Security.

At the end of the day, if we are not well and safe, nothing else matters. There is a good reason the basic need of security is one of the foundational blocks in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It takes a village to create a friendly and risk-free environment, and it is up to each of us to play a role in building a safe community.